Before she could ponder Adam’s absence too long, she was relieved to see him walking toward her from the chocolate shop with two steaming cups in his hands. He was unaware that she was looking at him. She noticed his stride, the square of his shoulders under his coat, the confidence in his face as he made his way through the crowd. Then, he locked eyes with her, and smiled, and she could hardly manage the happiness that she felt. If only she could have more time with him like this. It was probably the only chance she’d get with just him.
“I thought this might warm us up,” he said, handing her a cup. “Hot chocolate.”
“Thank you,” she said, gingerly taking a cup from his hand.
He looked over at Santa who already had a different child on his lap, the camera snapping a pose before the child pulled out her list. Carrie felt self-conscious about her Christmas wish to be with Adam more, as if he could read her mind. “I know what you’re thinking,” he said, and she nearly choked on her hot chocolate.
“You do?” she said after swallowing a blazing gulp of the hot liquid. She let out a tiny cough.
“We should bring the kids to see Santa.”
“Oh! Yes. We should.” She’d answered without thinking about it, but once she processed his words, she realized that he’d said we should bring the kids to see Santa. We. That little word sure packed a punch. He could have said, “Why don’t you bring the kids…” or “Feel free to bring the kids…” but he hadn’t. Did he even realize what he’d said? Or was she reading into things, letting her hope get the best of her? With the Christmas music, the decorations, Santa—the magic of the season—it was easy to do.
“Do you mind, since we’re out already, if I get some presents for my family as well? I was hoping you’d help me pick them out. I’m not very good at present-buying.”
“You seem very good at it to me,” she said, taking another sip of her hot chocolate. They’d started walking the brick walkway toward the fountain that was full of pennies, each one someone’s wish. She contemplated throwing one in for good luck.
“I’m better at it when you’re with me to give the final ‘okay’.”
She smiled at that comment, and they walked together, looking at shops and chatting about possible gifts for his parents and his grandfather. The most difficult person was going to be Sharon. He was at a loss for what to get her.
Adam stopped outside a small restaurant, the smell of the grill filling the air and making her tummy rumble despite having finished the hot chocolate. “It’s nearly lunchtime. I’m hungry,” he said. “Would you mind getting a bite to eat here rather than waiting until we get back home?”
“That’s fine with me,” she said, trying not to jump up and down, squealing in delight. She was about to share a meal with Adam at a restaurant with no work and no one bothering them at all. She couldn’t ask for more. In fact, it was so perfect that she had to wonder if her Christmas wish had come true somehow. She didn’t want to think about what might be between him and Andy, or the irritation she felt when he didn’t spend time with his kids. She wanted to ignore it all and let the happiness bubble up to the top because he was in the moment, and when he was, it was wonderful.
“Great. Let’s get a table. Is this all right?” He gestured toward the restaurant, its interior lighting so dim it made it look like dinner time rather than lunch. Past the green wreath on the window with its cascading red, velvet ribbon, she could see the roar of a fireplace inside and the shiny brass of a bar.
“Yes.” Of course it was all right. It was more than all right; it was fantastic.
Adam opened the door for Carrie and followed her inside.
Chapter Nineteen
Create a list of what makes you happy. Carrie didn’t need that line to find her inner happiness. She was perfectly happy right now, and she hadn’t needed any coaching or words of wisdom. She walked along beside Adam as they passed a Christmas tree with white lights and gold ornaments and followed the hostess to their table. Adam pulled out a chair for her before moving around to the other side and taking a seat. A very low light filled the room, allowing the table candles to show off their flames. A fire popped and sizzled at one end of the restaurant, and, even though Carrie couldn’t feel the heat from it, the entire restaurant was warm and cozy. Adam sat on the other side of a very small table, so small that when the server brought their menus there wasn’t enough room for both of them to lay end to end, so she had to pick hers up to read it.